Morning journal and courier., 1887-01-03
A s2l.nna DEBT.

A Joyful occasion az Trinity M. E Church Last Evening-The Debt Ok liberated A Big Congregation SeeI the Notes Cremated.
 It was a memorable and joyful gather ing and occasion at the Trinity M. E. church last evening and will long be remembered The church de5t of $21, ,O0O was paid. The church edi6cs will seat $50 people, but in some way or other fully 1 200 people witness ed the scene.
 No regular sermon was preached by Rev. J. o. Peck, the pastor. James T. Leighton spoke first. He spoke for the West Chapel street church and was followed by 0. P. Arm strong, who spoke to the audience for the Wesley Chapel church. The two gave the history of the origin and progress of the two churches mp to the time of their consolida- tion. B. Hitchcock followed, enunciating in general way on the progressive state of the new enterprise.
 John Kerley, the treasurer of the church, then read his report, which was 8 summary of monies raised by the two chapels under joint pastorate, and Trinity NJ. E. church for nine years ending May list, 1887, the balance of this financial year estimated:
 REV. A. c. EGeLEsroN PAsToRATH.
 Three years 1878, 1879 1sso All other purposes, 1o,5oo
 REV D. A. GooDsELL PAsToRATE.
 Three years-ls81, 1882, 1883 For church building and lot, $s9,oOo ~ ~ f f - s57,oOe
 REV. J. o. PECK PAsToRATE.
 Three years-1SS4, 1885, 1886. Church debt s16,oO0 Parsonage, 5000
 = $22, 900
 s51.5oo
 Total for the nine years, 13o,0O0 Raised during the last two pastorates, six Being an average for each year of over 1s,000 Our church property would cost to build 75,OO0 contracts at time of great business depression Rev. A.C. Eggleston of the joint pastorate, residing in Birmingham, was not present, invited. He was represented by D. M. Welch, who addressed the audience for him.
 Rev. Dr. D. A. Goodsell told the audience of the work during the time of his pastor ship.
 Dr. Peck then stepped forward and kept the assemblage spelIbound, notwithstanding that the services had already assumed lengthy by telling them of the unlimited generosity of the people interested in the welfare of that church, the work that was done in raising it and of the condition of the church while he had been the pastor.
 The last to make an address was A. P. Sloan, who is now a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y., but at the time the church was erected was one of the building committee and trustee.
 Before the last hymn was sung all evi- dences of the debt of $21 ,OOO on the church were cremated. A small, blue tinted flame licked the notes into ashes, in full sight of Twenty thousand dollars of the money had been borrowed of the Russell Library company of Middletown, Conn.,, and was in four notes of $5,O00 each. Messrs. A. P. Sloan. 0. F. Armstrong, John Kerley and A. B. Smith each had at the time of the bor- rowing of the money endorsed one note. The rate of interest was five per cent. There was also fifth note for $1 900 cre- mated, being the floating debt on the church parsonage. This note was endorsed by D. M. Welch.
 The services were interspersed by excellent ringing emanating from MT. and Mrs. Chas. Turner, of New York. The closing exercise was solo by Mrs. Turner, "Home, Sweet Home" which was most appropriate for the occasion, seeing the debt had been iquidat-